Page 7 - Australian Defence Magazine Dec19-Jan20

DECEMBER 2019 – JANUARY 2020 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
NEWS REVIEW INDUSTRY UPDATE 7
DSEI JAPAN 2019 – THE DOOR OPENS (A LITTLE)
NIGEL PITTAWAY I TOKYO
THE inaugural Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan Show was held at the Makuhari Messe exhibition centre in Chiba Prefecture, To- kyo, between November 18 and 20 2019, with around 200 Japanese and foreign companies represented in the halls.
Although official attendance figures were not available, organisers reported around 5,000 people had registered for the event, which was opened on the first day by Masanori Nishi, former Administrative Vice-Minister for Defence.
Although perhaps a modest event, when com- pared with large international defence shows such as the parent DSEI in London, or our own Land Forces, DSEI Japan 2019 was neverthe- less an important beginning for a local defence industry that is slowly warming to the idea of co-operation with international partners.
Indeed, the words ‘collaboration’, ‘co-op- eration’ and the phrase ‘joint venture’ were a constant thread running through the three-day event. Japan has traditionally been a difficult market for western manufacturers to penetrate, due to a desire to locally design and manu- facture equipment for the Japan Self Defence Force, but the situation is slowly changing.
Japanese companies are also increas- ingly looking to the export market and in turn, this is leading to more engagement with their international counterparts.
One example of an opportunity for in- ternational suppliers is the Japan Ground Self Defence Force’s (JGDSF’s) competi- tion to acquire an 8x8 wheeled armoured combat vehicle to replace the JGSDF’s ex- isting Type 96 vehicles.
The program has some similarities to Australia’s Land 400 program but is seek- ing an Armoured Personnel Carrier without a turret and capable of carrying eight fully- equipped troops. Mitsubishi Heavy Indus- tries (MHI) unveiled its proposal at DSEI Japan, based on the company’s Type 16 Mo- bile Combat Vehicle but, importantly, Patria (AMV) and GDLS (LAV 6.0) have also been invited to submit vehicles for testing.
JAPAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
As the host nation, Japan had a large presence in the exhibition hall, includ-
ing examples of the JGSDF’s current Type 10 main battle tank and Type 16 Mobile Combat Vehicle.
The Ministry of Defence’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) had a large footprint at the show, exhibiting a range of domestically produced equipment and technology and it also hosted five select- ed local small to medium enterprises to dis- play their wares. These included Oohashi, with a portable helipad made from recycled materials; Fuji Imvac, with its W-T500 car- go-carrying UAV; Adamant Namiki Preci- sion Jewel Company, which displayed its sapphire technology; Kansai Electronics (advanced materials) and Science Arts (Bud- dycom voice app, which allows real-time video and voice information sharing).
Larger equipment on display in the ATLA precinct included a remotely controlled engi- neering vehicle for countering Chemical, Bi- ological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats, an MHI OZZ-5 autonomous under- water vehicle and a Type 10 snow vehicle.
Representatives from Japan’s aerospace companies were also on hand to discuss their various products with potential cus- tomers. Kawasaki is marketing its C-2 mili- tary transport and the company representa- tive told ADM that the JASDF had deployed on of its in-service aircraft to the Dubai Air Show immediately prior to DSEI, to sup- port sales campaigns in the Middle East.
A representative from ShinMaywa, manu- facturer of the four-engine US-2 amphibious aircraft, told ADM that the company had
been negotiating with the Indian Govern- ment since 2012 and it also sees the potential for a future requirement in Australia for long range maritime search and rescue operations.
AUSTRALIAN PRESENCE
Australian companies attending the event included the Aerospace, Maritime, De- fence and Security Foundation, who were promoting the Land Forces 2020 show to be held in Brisbane in September; EOS Space Systems, who were talking with Jap- anese authorities about their Space Situ- ational Awareness (SSA) capabilities and requirements, and Toll Group.
“We’ve been consulting with the Japa- nese Government for a while about space surveillance,” explained EOS Space Sys- tems CEO Professor Craig Smith to ADM.” They are rapidly improving their capability to monitor satellites and satellite launches.”
While Japan is also pursuing a space tracking capability based on radar systems, some requirements are best met using op- tical methodologies and the country is not geographically and/or climatically well-posi- tioned to monitor space from its home soil.
“We have both technology and services to offer, so we are primarily here to talk with the Japanese Ministry of Defence about space surveillance,” Smith added. “But we are also here to find out whether they are also interested in Remote Weapons Stations. They have planned to provide that capability themselves in the past, but we think we can offer them an impressive solution.” ■
ADM - NIGEL PITTAWAY